Romney a Favorite among Conservatives

The Washington Post's "The Fix" hone in on a very interesting and encouraging fact from a recent poll in a post entitled "Mitt Romney, Conservative Darling?":

Former Massachusetts governor Mitt Romney has spent the better part of the last five years working to convince conservatives that he is one of them. And, if the latest Washington Post/ABC News poll is right, he’s done it.

Sixty percent of Republicans and Republican-leaning independents view the potential GOP presidential candidate favorably, while just 21 percent see him in an unfavorable light.

That’s an improvement from where he stood in early January 2008 – in the heart of the GOP primary fight – when 55 percent of Republicans and GOP-leaning independents viewed him favorably and 36 percent felt unfavorably toward him. And back in November 2007, Romney’s favorable score stood at 42 percent while 28 percent felt unfavorably toward him in Post/ABC data.

Perhaps more important for Romney as he gears up for a second presidential bid in 2012 are his numbers among the most conservative segments in the GOP. Sixty-eight percent of self-identified conservatives view Romney favorably; his numbers are even higher among the portion of that group who identify themselves as “very” conservative – with 71 percent seeing the former governor in a favorable light.

Many of us supporters have seen him as a conservative for years (how he governed in liberal Massachusetts was nothing short of a conservative miracle) . . . but it's nice to see other conservatives finally starting to see the light.

Romney vs. Health Care . . . An Ongoing Series Evaluating RomneyCare, ObamaCare, and How They Effect the 2012 Race

Addressing the Health Care issues for Romney in the 2012 race will be paramount.

Though I'm pretty sure Mitt will do a better job of "staying on message" during this run than in 2008, he will need to address his history of Health Care reform (e.g. Romneycare) to some degree.

Part 1 of the series is titled Mitt Romney vs. Health Care: “The Problem” (Or is it?)

Part 2: Mitt Romney vs. Health Care: “Why RomneyCare Makes Mitt the BEST Nominee to Face Obama”

And a recent update showing that Mitt's not taking the bait on a call that he "apologize" for RomneyCare . . . "Mitt Owning RomneyCare . . . No Apology"

Back into Blogging! Main blogging at Mitt Romney Central

I am making the foray back into blogging for Romney! The time is now for new and competent leadership for our great nation, and Mitt Romney is just the right man at the right time.

Although I will be doing some cross-posting at both websites please go to Mitt Romney Central for the most complete and up to date info on Mitt in 2012.

Mitt Romney Honorably Suspends His Campaign...

Well it was gut wrenching for me to hear it, I was listening to Rush Limbaugh's show when he announced it. Romney is correct, we are a nation at war and we need to defeat the democrat candidates who are all about the US losing. uhg I wish people would have seen the great tings Mitt can do sooner, but as it has been rumored, there is always 2012.

This site will still be around and will be updated from time to time. I still fervently believe Mitt Romney will make an outstanding president and lead this country to even greater heights.

Karl

THE FAITH TO TRY, and THE WILLINGNESS TO SERVE

By: Jebee Kenji Solis


The Governor a few days ago said this regarding running for President, "This is not something I'm doing because I need or I want it desperately for myself. I believe the country could benefit from the experience I've had, but that is not what motivates me."

So what motivates Gov. Mitt Romney?

Some people at 60's with lots of money, who worked hard and save, would rather be well at the comfort of their lives, vacationing, running a charity, living life quietly.

But Mitt Romney is more than willing to get out of his comfort zone, as well as his wife Ann who had MS, as well as theirs sons who have happy lives of their own because they have faith in the American people. They have the courage to try even the prospect may not look that bright at the end part, because they have the willing heart and mind to serve.

Mitt said the following in Michigan back in September. The whole speech is worth reading, but here's a part:

"I don't have to tell you that my Dad made a mark on Michigan. And he made a mark on me. And I guess that is at the heart of things; he's a big part of why I'm running for President today. In 1957, when he was the President of American Motors, he gave a speech in which he reported the following conversation: "

'My nine year old son' – that would be me – 'came home from school and said "Mom, we really build the best cars, don't we?"' "She said, 'Why Mitt, of course we do. Why do you ask?' "

'Well, if we build the best cars, why is it that less than three percent of the people agree with us?'

"After my Dad heard of this conversation, he took me aside and said, 'Look, Mitt, size doesn't always indicate strength and popularity doesn't always indicate truth, and sales volume doesn't always indicate value.' "

And then he added: 'Right always prevails.'


What had happen the last few state primaries confirmed my fear, that instead of moving forward, we are moving backwards. Instead of choosing who the right candidate for us is, we choose someone who trampled our belief and ideals, who will abandon our dreams and aspirations.

Mitt Romney shared and is sharing himself to be a servant because he rightly believes that service to his countrymen and service to the world is a selfless act. Sometimes, when you are truly blessed, you have a burning desire to serve and bless and lift the lives of others. He doesn't want money; he already said he will donate his salary to the charity once elected president. He doesn't need fame, he is already well-known. He doesn't need honor or glory. All he wants is to make sure his grandchildren and the generation that will come after them will have a better place to live. The kind of country people look up too for goodness, justice and freedom. The kind of America that reaches out to people around the world, and serves as a beacon of hope and success.

Mark Steyn over the Corner said "This was conservatives' last chance... The only chance was for a really good conservative leader to be elected and make a Reaganesque impression on the country that would delay the liberal fate. If Romney is defeated tomorrow, that will not happen, and tomorrow will live in infamy as a monumental defeat for conservatism."

We will find out today if Americans will stands for something. I can only wait and see. The choice is ours. The choice is exclusively ours.

Limbaugh says, "One Candidate Now Stands For All Three Legs of Conservatism"

Rush Limbaugh gave a full punch monologue today explaining how Mitt Romney is the only candidate that does embody the "three pillars" of conservatism.

Now, I think now, based on the way the campaign has shaken out, that there probably is a candidate on our side who does embody all three legs of the conservative stool, and that's Romney. The three stools or the three legs of the stool are national security/foreign policy, the social conservatives, and the fiscal conservatives. The social conservatives are the cultural people. The fiscal conservatives are the economic crowd: low taxes, smaller government, get out of the way.

Rush continues

So my take is, speaking for myself. I'm being honest here. All I do is tell you what I think. What you do with it is up to you. You are not mind-numbed robots as you know. I'm not a Svengali, I'm not a pied piper, and you're not lemmings running off the cliff. If I look at this roster of three candidates -- if I look at Hillary-Obama, about whom there's not a dime's worth of difference, because they're so far left it doesn't matter which one of them wins. If McCain adopts economic policies that sound very much like what you'd get from Hillary-Obama, and if I think those policies are going to take the country down the tubes I'd just as soon the Democrats take the hit for it, not us. Plain and simple.

And the coup de etat

I think that's pretty wise. I think right now Romney probably -- as the campaign has coalesced and as the campaign has progressing on down the highway -- I think the one candidate of the three still out there on our side matter (and actually it's just two, because Huckabee doesn't, in terms of a chance to win) in saying who more closely embodies all three legs of this conservative stool, you'd have to say that it's Mitt Romney. There's actually no choice in the matter. It certainly isn't Senator McCain.

Now add this to the endorsements of Sean Hanity, Laura Ingraham, Hugh Hewitt, Marc Levin and a host of other conservative media hosts, all of whom are well plugged into "us" the grass roots, and it makes a very compelling case who really is the conservative candidate that can unite us and lead this country.

Mitt Romney for President!

In Ronald Reagan's words

Ronald Reagan's name have been invoked during this primary season many times on both sides of the party line. Well here is something to do. Go to this page http://www.wwrdheritage.org/Resources.aspx and watch the six videos on the right side bar, they are from President Reagan's first inaugural address. The last two are from later in his presidency.

After you've watched the videos ask yourself, "Of the candidates who wants to lower taxes?" "Who wants to increase citizens' potential by reducing government?" "Who wants to lead us into the economic future with optimism?" "Who wants to keep the nation's defense strong?" Who...and insert what you heard in the videos.

There are plenty of other questions, those are just a few, but we have candidates who have been a part of Washington for years. During that time the military decreased, taxes rose, national threats grew and more intrusions into individual freedoms enacted...and "they" were there.

As for me, I don't want someone who desires limiting free speech via legislation. I do not want someone who believes open borders is sound national and defense policy. I do not want someone who wants to interfere with capitalist economic principles under the guise of saving the environment. I do not want someone who sees forbearance as weakness. I do not want someone who will stab my conservative back for the sake of liberal policy or reaching across the aisle.

There will not be another Ronald Reagan. But there are people who espouse the conservative values he lived by. I say seek out those people and put them in office.

Karl

Post note: I found the the Heritage Foundation page with clips of President Reagan's first inauguration speech thanks to Powder Tracks' blog. His blog inspired me to create this one.

ROMNEY WINS MAINE!!!

Yes! Gov Romney was one Maine's caucus...and do you hear about it in the media any where? This is a significant win; with the 18 delegates Maine has that put Romney now at 92 delegates to McCain's 97 delegates.

Here's an excerpt form the AP story found here:

AUGUSTA, Maine (AP) — Mitt Romney coasted to a win in presidential preference voting by Maine Republicans on Saturday, claiming his third victory in a caucus state and fourth overall.

The former Massachusetts governor had 52 percent of the vote with 68 percent of the towns holding caucuses reporting. John McCain trailed with 21 percent, Ron Paul was third with 19 percent, and Mike Huckabee had 6 percent. Undecided votes accounted for 2 percent.

The nonbinding votes, the first step toward electing 18 Maine delegates to the Republican National Convention, took place in public schools, Grange halls, fire stations and town halls across the state.

The Associated Press uses presidential preferences expressed in those caucuses to project the number of national convention delegates each candidate will have when they are chosen at Maine's state convention, calculating that Romney will wind up with all 18 delegates when all is said and done.

Campaigning in Minnesota, Romney noted that his victory in Maine came despite McCain's endorsement by the state's two U.S. senators.

This should be receiving more media attention since Romney and McCain are now just 5 delegates apart. Some I've spoke to say it's just a caucus, well Iowa is just a caucus but we heard plenty about it and its results.

Folks, Romney is not out and don't be surprised if he comes out on top.

Rally To Romney!!

I'm getting a sense of way too much "resignation" among some online Mitt supporters. In the last few days Laura Ingraham, Sean Hannity, Mark Levin, and Rick Santorum have all endorsed Romney and said that they would be voting for him. Although I wish these endorsements came earlier, it's clear that Romney is the conservative alternative to McCain (despite McCain's ads recently that call him "The True Conservative" . . . I spit out my milk when I heard that line).

I will also go on the record (again) that, should he become the nominee, I will not vote for McCain and will not encourage anyone else to vote for him either (probably not even if Romney is his VP). There are several reasons for this:

1) McCain lied about Romney's record on Iraq saying that Romney favored a "timetable for withdrawl like the Democrats." I've detailed the more-than-copious evidence that this is an outright and blatant lie here. I don't want, and we don't need, a liar as our nominee.

2) McCain has made quite a practice of "poking his finger in the eye" of conservatives. I'm guessing that he's man enough to realize and understand that many/most of us feel like returning the favor.

3) If McCain is the nominee, it's clear that, regardless which party wins, our country will have a President to the left of Bush. I don't want the GOP (and, by extension, conservatism) blamed for the ensuing mess of taking our country more to the left. Let the Democrats take the full blame of getting what they're asking for. That could be the best thing in the long run for the GOP and for conservatism.

Granted, I still am fighting and working to make sure that Romney is our nominee and not McCain. I would LOVE to be able to vote for the GOP nominee. We must all Rally to Romney!! He'll be the best President of anyone still in the game. His competence and leadership are unrivaled. People just need to wake up and realize it.

Jeff Fuller

Alabama for Mitt Romney

Braden Pace of Braden’s Take on the Matter outlines why Alabamians should vote for Romney.


The concept of a Republican governor in a Democratic state is not lost on most Alabamians.

In 2002, Alabama elected a Republican governor despite having a Democratic legislature in hopes of bringing fiscal responsibility and lower taxes to a state government plagued by the corruption of a previous administration.

That same year, the Democratic stronghold of Massachusetts elected Republican Mitt Romney to be its governor with similar hopes of fiscal discipline for a state that faced a $3 billion deficit. In spite of such a daunting predicament, he managed to balance the budget in every year of his term without raising taxes.

For the past six years, Alabamians have been able to witness the progress that a Republican governor can achieve. This, among several reasons, is why Alabama should select Governor Mitt Romney as the Republican nominee for President of the United States.

Despite being the governor of a northern state, Mitt Romney shares the same values that Alabamians hold dear. These values can be reflected in three major areas, which comprise what Romney calls the three legs of the Republican stool: a strong military, a strong economy, and strong families.

Since 9/11, most Americans understand the need to address Islamic terrorism on a global scale. Mitt Romney believes in achieving a safer country by increasing the size of our military and by confronting radical jihadists in the Middle East. In a state that houses the likes of Redstone Arsenal and Maxwell Air Force Base, Alabamians, like Mitt Romney understand the importance of a strong military.

There’s not a single candidate in the field this year, Republican or Democrat that has more experience in the economy than Mitt Romney. From his career as CEO of Bain Capital in Boston to his tremendous success in turning around the embattled 2002 Salt Lake City Olympics, Romney knows the ins and outs of the American economy.

In Montgomery, we need only look to our own backyard for proof that Asian markets are becoming a force to be reckoned with on a global scale. While the Hyundai plant has had a positive presence in our state, it’s important to remember that it represents a growing influence on the global economy in competition with American goods and services. Mitt Romney understands that and as President, he will work to make sure America can continue to compete with Asian markets in the greater global economy.

If there’s one thing Alabamians crave, it’s lower taxes. This makes Governor Romney a perfect fit for us. His domestic agenda includes eliminating taxes on savings for middle class families, making the Bush tax cuts permanent, permanently eliminating the death tax, and making healthcare expenses tax deductible, all of which are initiatives that Alabamians long for.

As citizens of Alabama, we are known for our strong family values. Having been married for nearly forty years to his wife Ann, with whom he raised their five sons, Mitt Romney is also known for his family values. He supports a constitutional amendment to the United States Constitution that would define marriage as the institution of one man and one woman. He also believes that Roe v. Wade should be overturned in order to let the American people decide the issue of abortion. In his career as governor of Massachusetts, he fought to ban cloning, to ban embryo farming, and to define life as beginning at conception. The Massachusetts Citizens for Life even gave Governor Romney the leadership award for his efforts in the fight to protect human life.

In a state where our motto is “We Dare Defend Our Rights,” we firmly believe in the rights enumerated in the Second Amendment. Mitt Romney strongly supports those rights as well. As a member of the National Rifle Association, he believes in the distinction between law abiding gun owners and the individuals who use firearms to commit crimes.

Based on these reasons stated above, I believe Mitt Romney would be the ideal choice for the citizens of Alabama, as well as the United States of America. I urge all conservative Alabamians to vote for Governor Romney on February 5th.

McCain...liberal?

Check out this add from the United Victory Fund. They point out a surprisingly liberal John McCain.

Denny Hastert, speaks out in favor Romney.

A Mark Levin talks with Denny Hastert. He was a Republican member of the United States House of Representatives from 1987 to 2007, representing Illinois's 14th congressional district, and served as Speaker of the House from 1999 to 2007. He was was the Speaker of the House during the Clinton Impeachment. He has worked with all the republican candidates save Huckabee. Importantly, he supports Romney and for some fantastic reason's. He worked with Romney during the Salt Lake City Winter Olympics. He speaks of taxes and issues such as McCain-Fiengold which, as he puts it, took more money out of the Republican party yet it's funny he got the nomination.

Last point. I agree with Speaker Hastert assessment that the media is setting up McCain for a REALLY big fall if he gets the nomination.

The audio is here ,it is worth your time.

By the way, is John McCain getting back at Bush and republicans for his loss in 2004?

Its the Independents..

Looking at the exit poll data on CNN here McCain is pulling in independents and liberals and thus edging out over Romney.

By party--
Republicans:

Romney with 33% and McCain with 33% (dead heat)

Independents:

Romney with 23% and McCain with 44%

McCain didn't win among conservatives, the independents carried him.

By Ideology--

McCain Romney

Liberal					49%		24%
Moderate					43%		21%
Conservative					29%		37%

Digging a little deeper into the ideology Liberals

McCain Romney

Somewhat Liberal					55%		24%
Moderate					43%		21%
Somewhat Conserv.					35%		32%
Very Conservative					21%		44%

Moderates and liberals are helping him win delegates. McCain lost among conservatives by a wide margin. Looking at all the issues it was the liberals and non-Republicans that, once again, took the win away from Romney and gave it to McCain.

Tell me how a McCain nomination will be the representative of conservative ideas when its the same people that would vote for Hillary or Obama voting to get him elected?

Stop McCain; Rally to Romney

This was posted by Stuart Jones on 29 Jan 2008. This article says it all. The Republican party can unite behind Romney, they will not unite behind McCain

Link here

Last month, when asked if he had a preference in the primary season, a liberal Democrat friend of mine said that he did not. To him, all of the Democratic hopefuls were about the same and he could support any of them. Then asked if there was any Republican he could support, he quickly replied “well, John McCain of course.”
Conservatives have long alleged that John McCain is in the wrong party. He has led the fight for amnesty for illegal aliens and has recently joined Al Gore’s fight against global warming. McCain’s biggest supporter is the 2000 Democratic Vice Presidential nominee, Joe Lieberman. On Thursday, McCain was endorsed by The New York Times and on Friday there was this from Bill Clinton: “She and John McCain are very close,” Bill Clinton said about his wife. “They always laugh that if they wound up being the nominees of their party, it would be the most civilized election in American history and they’re afraid they’d put the voters to sleep because they like and respect each other.”
In a year when the Democratic race seems to be more about style than policy differences some liberal Democrats and Independents saw a chance to hedge their bets and vote for McCain in open primaries as the Republican nominee. John McCain lost the New Hampshire primary among Republicans but finished first when the votes of Democrats and independents were added. He came in first in New Hampshire with 37% of the total vote and came in first in South Carolina with 33% of the vote, just 3% ahead of the second place finisher. To put it another way, 63% of voters voted against McCain in New Hampshire and two-thirds opposed him in South Carolina.
Yet McCain’s thin plurality in S.C. was enough for his fans in the news media to insist that he be nominated. Liberal newspapers, who typically demonize Republicans, gushed with phony concern for Republican chances in November and declared that only McCain was electable. Since when did The New York Times ever want a Republican to win an election?
In turn, most every conservative in the media, from Rush Limbaugh to Michelle Malkin to Mark Levin blasted McCain’s candidacy. Online editorials went further. Simmons of The Political Grind said “Why McCain Will Never Win”, while Billy Hollis of QandO said what a lot of Republicans have been thinking. In an “Open Letter to the Grand Old Party” he stated simply that if McCain is the nominee he, and millions of other conservatives, won’t vote for him. A McCain nomination would split the Republican party and prompt another third party candidacy, perhaps from Ron Paul or Lou Dobbs. McCain’s policies are hated by a large segment of the Republican party and no amount of appeals to party unity will change their minds. It seems likely that a majority of Republicans will oppose McCain through the convention yet he could still get the nomination.
McCain’s chance at the nomination comes from an unlikely source. In the Summer of 2007, Rudy Giuliani was the Republican frontrunner, with 30% leads in polls in New York and New Jersey. In contrast McCain’s candidacy was falling apart, due to his support of the wildly unpopular Senate amnesty bill. Giuliani allies seeking to stack the deck in his favor pushed for New York and New Jersey to be winner-take-all states. It never seemed to occur to Giuliani’s allies that he wouldn’t be the frontrunner seven months later and that instead of boosting his candidacy they could doom it. What his allies lack in fair-mindedness they make up for in unimaginativeness. The definition of “winner” in “winner take all” is dubious. Logically it would seem that a candidate would have to get a majority of the vote to win; in some states, like Alabama, that is indeed the case. After all in a democracy majority rules. But in most WTA states, like New York, New Jersey and Florida one can be a winner with a mere plurality of the vote, with no minimum on that amount. In a crowded field a candidate could get only 25% of the vote and be awarded 100% of the delegates. 75% of the voters in a state could vote against a candidate yet, if the opposition is divided among several other candidates, 25% support could translate into 100% of the delegates. Winner-take-all contests are often designed to help a favorite son, as in New York this year, but more often the policy has little to do with nominating the best candidate and everything to do with advancing the interests of state party officials. By awarding all of their delegates to one candidate, party hacks seek to exaggerate the importance of their state in the nomination process. They also hope that, if the winner of their state contest goes on to be president, he will be beholden to that state’s officials. Such self-serving maneuvering reinforces the public’s cynicism about politics and distorts the will of the voters. To their credit, the Democratic party outlawed WTA primaries years ago.
If McCain can win in New York and New Jersey, where he currently leads in the polls, he could lead in the delegate count after Super Tuesday. His nomination could then become a real and disturbing possibility, but there is still time for McCain to be stopped.
The Republican process is rapidly becoming a two man race. McCain leads in national polls, but these surveys measure little more than name recognition and swing wildly from week to week. In every other measure of success (including numbers of delegates committed, number of votes received and number of primaries won) heading into Florida, the front runner is Mitt Romney. While Romney has not been the first choice of the majority of conservatives so far, very few Republicans consider him unacceptable as the nominee. The party could unite behind Romney, but they could never unite behind McCain. Plus recent events have boosted Romney’s prospects. Romney has long focused on economic concerns and he is the only candidate in the race with a business background. As the economy slides into a recession and/or deeper debt, Romney’s experience becomes more relevant. McCain, by contrast, has spent his whole career in public service. McCain has a genuine and profound contempt for American workers; to the extent that he has focused on economic matters at all, it has been to protect the profits of America’s largest corporations. McCain is the most unfriendly politician that the American middle class has ever seen.
Republicans and conservatives now have no choice but to throw their support to Romney. If McCain is nominated we will see conservatives disenfranchised and the Republican party torn apart, perhaps forever. That may be exactly what the New York Times has been hoping for all along.

Four pro-family leaders endorse Mitt Romney in Florida

Four pro-family leaders endorse Mitt Romney for Florida Presidential Preference primary

Recent changes by candidates for the Republican nomination for president have made it much clearer that Mitt Romney is the preferred candidate of choice in the Florida Presidential Preference primary.

The recent withdrawal of Fred Thompson from the nomination process and the news reports that Mike Huckabee will only have a minimal campaign in Florida leaves the winner take all race for Florida's delegates between Mitt Romney, John McCain and Rudy Giuliani. The news reports on these recent changes are provided below. Additionally, the Rasmussen Report provided below shows Mitt Romney has the best chances of winning while Huckabee and Thompson trail far behind.

Rasmussen Survey of 754 Likely GOP Voters January 20, 2008

Election 2008: Florida GOP Primary

Mitt Romney 25%

John McCain 20%

Rudy Giuliani 19%

Mike Huckabee 13%

Fred Thompson 12%

Ron Paul 5%

Not Sure 6%

Dennis Baxley, David Caton, Carole Griffin and Anthony Verdugo, representing over fifty years of combined pro-family leadership in Florida, support Mitt Romney in the Florida Presidential Preference Primary.

The election results from Florida's Primary on January 29th will play a significant role in the Republican nomination for president. Florida's election results are expected to heavily influence the choice of voters during the February 5th Super Tuesday primary that will be held in many other state.

Mitt Romney is clearly the most conservative candidate among the top three competitive candidates (Giuliani, McCain, Romney) appearing on the Florida Presidential Preference ballot in Florida.

Dennis Baxley is the incoming Executive Director for Christian Coalition of Florida and former Florida State Representative for District 24.

David Caton is the Executive Director of Florida Family Association.

Carole Griffin is a pro-family lobbyist in Tallahassee and heads the Eagle Forum in Florida.

Anthony Verdugo is the president of Christian Family Coalition.

The last Alabama Straw Poll - Saturday January 26.

The Alabama Republican Assembly will be hosting
this event. Many of us remember that this organization hosted a straw
poll at the University of Alabama back in August of 2007.

Let's get as many Romney supporters out there and show the media Mitt is a serious contender in Alabama!

The 2008 ALRA Presidential Endorsing Convention

Alabama Republican Straw Poll - Saturday January 26.
Vote for your favorite presidential candidate and give him a media
boast. This event sponsored by the Alabama Republican Assembly.
What: ALRA Straw Poll and Endorsing Convention
When: Saturday, January 26, 10:00 AM
Event fee: $20.00 per person
Where: Birmingham Marriott, 3590 Grandview Parkway, Birmingham, Alabama 35243

The endorsing convention will begin promptly at 10 am and should conclude by 12:00
noon.

Straw poll tickets will be sold for $20 a piece at the door.
The straw poll will open at 10am and close at 11:30am.
The results of the straw poll will be announced at the conclusion of the convention.

As we near the February 5th “Super Tuesday” primary in Alabama, top conservative
Republican grassroots activists in the state (i.e. you) need to make their Presidential preference known to rank and file Republican voters.
This endorsing convention provides you with an opportunity to do just that.

A press release announcing the results of the endorsing convention and straw poll
will be released following the meeting.

As a bonus, invited Senator Jeff Sessions was invited to address the convention on the
very dangerous “Law of the Sea” treaty. Senator Sessions is fast emerging as on of the most important conservative voices in the US Senate. After taking a very principled stand against the Democrats and the Whitehouse on illegal immigration, Sessions is now taking on a treaty that threatens to turn over most of the world’s surface to the United Nations and impose a direct tax on the United States.

Please make it a priority to attend this important endorsing a convention.
The year 2008 will be a momentous one in America’s political history.
Let’s do our part in letting our voices be heard!

"by the content of their character"

Will Sellers wrote a great piece speaking about judging Romney by what he has done, or as Sellers put it the "outward manifestation of how they have lived and what they have accomplished" For any one deciding on whether or not to support Romney, please read this article.

Here are a few highlights

First, Romney has a business background. His was more than just making a living, but Romney was an expert in turning around faltering businesses. And while his success may have been measured in dollars earned, he is the only candidate who has actually saved American jobs by reorganizing and restructuring distressed companies. I think we could use a president who has experience in creating and maintaining employment opportunities.

In his time as governor, Romney worked with a contentious legislature controlled by Democrats to pass legislation that turned the deficit into a surplus, provided tax relief and enacted economic incentives to bring jobs back. These achievements were not the result of scripted rhetoric or media spin. They were rather the accomplishments of the successful political leadership of Mitt Romney

Finally, the content of Romney's character is reflected in the values he shares and promotes. One need only catch a candid interview with his wife, Ann, or one of his sons to know that he not only talks about family values, but he actually lives them. Romney's work as a loving husband and father speaks volumes about his person. The reality of his family life is yet another reason to exalt results over rhetoric.

I agree whole heartedly with Mr. Sellers assessment with Governor Romney's accomplishments and character.

Links here
or
here

Fred Thompson bows out...

Well, one candidate I didn't want to see go so soon has withdrawn from the race, Fred Thompson. I liked having both Thompson and Romney in the race, two strong conservatives who have a great love for conservative values. I think he had one of the best comebacks in the NH debates regarding McCain stating that paying a fine not being amnesty, "Do they get to stay in the country?" "Then its amnesty."


Mitt Romney had this to say regarding Fred Thompson's departure:

“Throughout this campaign, Fred Thompson brought a laudable focus to the challenges confronting our country and the solutions necessary to meet them. He stood for strong conservative ideas and believed strongly in the need to keep our conservative coalition together. Ann and I would like to extend our best wishes to Fred, Jeri and their family and congratulate them on their efforts during this campaign.”

Mitt Romney wins Michigan!!!!

Total Cumulative Vote Tally:
Romney - 450,740 -- 37%
McCain - 367,126 -- 30%
Huckabee - 210,402 -- 17%
Paul - 85,807 -- 7%
Thompson - 51,536 -- 4%
Giuliani - 49,772 -- 4%
Winner: Mitt Romney (he was winning this BEFORE MI too)

Delegate Count (via CNN):
Winner: Mitt Romney (he has more delegates than Huckabee, McCain, and Rudy COMBINED)

Medals Count:
Romney - 2 Gold, 2 Silver
Huckabee - 1 Gold, 2 Bronze
McCain - 1 Gold, 1 Silver
Thompson - 1 Silver, 1 Bronze
Hunter - 1 Bronze
Giuliani -
Paul -
Winner: Mitt Romney

Which candidate has both RAISED the most money AND has the biggest purse to continue on to future states? Mitt Romney

Which candidate has won the largest plurality of voters in any contest thusfar? Mitt Romney (39% of the vote is the highest percentage of any candidate on either side in any contested state thusfar)

Which candidate won the most demographically diverse and most populous state thusfar? Mitt Romney (significant Urban, Suburban, and rural populations in MI)

Flip-flop or Honest Change of Heart?

I read few posts dealing with the dealing with the Romney flip-flop accusation. I decided it be best to simple post and provide the links since the authors did a fine job of addressing the situation. First I’ll start off with the amazing Susan Baldwin of Conservative Wordsmith, then add a dash of Ann Coulter and final top things of with a little Glenn Beck.

First Susan Baldwin:

Is Mitt Romney A Flip-Flopper Or A Lifesaver?

Tuesday, January 15, 2008 9:48 PM

Conservative Wordsmith Susan Baldwin writes: Is Mitt Romney really a pro-choice, pro-life flip-flopper? My answer is "No." Governor Mitt Romney is definitely not a flip-flopper. My position on flip-flopping is this: A true flip-flopper flips opinions back and forth constantly, just like rubber beach sandals, or flip-flops, constantly flip up and down while walking, because one's feet are only supported by a thong that fits between two toes.

Mitt Romney is not a true flip-flopper, as a real flip-flopper will change views on a particular issue many, many times, just like the example of the beach flip-flops I mentioned above. See the dictionary definition for "flip-flopper" below, and note the significance of the word "continually," which is a synonym for the word "constantly."

Mitt Romney did not continually change his viewpoint on abortion. Mitt Romney should be commended for his honest turnaround. The truth is that Mitt is now very much against the evil sin of abortion, and I believe that he will be a strong advocate for the unborn when he becomes the first Mormon President of the United States of America.

Related Links
http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/flip-flopper

flip-flopper: a person who continually changes a point of view or decision, esp. a politician

Now Ann Coulter –

The Elephant in the Room

Posted: 01/16/2008

http://www.humanevents.com/article.php?id=24505

Liberals claim to be enraged at Romney for being a "flip-flopper." I've looked and looked, and the only issue I can find that Romney has "flipped" on is abortion. When running for office in Massachusetts…Romney said that Massachusetts was a pro-choice state and that he would not seek to change laws on abortion.

Even when Romney was claiming to support Roe v. Wade, he won the endorsement of Massachusetts Citizens for Life [a pro-life group by the way]. Romney's Democratic opponents always won the endorsements of the very same pro-choice groups now attacking him as a "flip-flopper."

After his term as governor, NARAL Pro-Choice America assailed Romney, saying: "(A)s governor he initially expressed pro-choice beliefs but had a generally anti-choice record. His position on choice has changed. His position is now anti-choice."

Pro-abortion groups like the Republican Majority for Choice -- the evil doppelganger to my own group, Democratic Majority for Life -- are now running videos attacking Romney for "flip-flopping" on abortion.

Of all the Republican candidates for president, Romney and Rudy Giuliani are the only ones who had to be elected in pro-choice districts. Romney governed as a pro-lifer and has been viciously attacked by pro-abortion groups.

Don’t you just love how it’s the liberals who are attacking him as a flip-flopper.

Finally Glenn Beck –

Mitt Romney Interview

January 16, 2008 - 11:13 ET

http://www.glennbeck.com/content/articles/article/196/4356/

GLENN: Wait, wait, wait, wait. Wait, wait, wait. That's not evolution. I mean, if there's a clear case to be made some case for flip-flop, it's John McCain. He was just trying to hand free amnesty out to everybody and was like, wow, you know, that was a bad idea; we shouldn't do that. That, at least with your abortion thing, you had an explanation. I don't understand how McCain's not being labeled a flip-flopper.

GLENN: The first time we spoke, I don't know if you remember this, I said to you -- I was very, very skeptical and I said before you came on the air, I'll going to ask this guy for his pivot point and if he can't tell me the moment that it crystallized in his head on abortion, if he can't tell me the wallpaper color of when he realized, "Wait a minute, I'm on the wrong side of this issue," he's lying to you. And you told the story about when you changed and you didn't hesitate at all and I knew it was a valid pivot point. I'm a pivot point guy because I'm a alcoholic. I knew -- I can tell you the moment I said I've got to change my life. That's not the case with John McCain. That's a flip-flop. When it comes to taxes, you don't support them back then and now, "well, I'll make them permanent but I'm not really sure if I would do more tax cuts now." That's a flip-flop. He doesn't even understand what tax cuts do.

My Two Cents:

It takes great character to look at your life and realize something has to change. It isn’t easy and in politics it can be deadly since opponents will use it against you. For me, a father of six children, I will welcome any person with open arms who changes there stance to pro-life whenever that change may come. Is the real question/responce, "I’m a better conservative because I was a pro-lifer longer than you?" Or should the better response be, “Welcome to the light, we’re glad you are with us.”

Karl

NEVADA LOOMING: Let's insist the media give the GOP Nevada caucus the coverage and respect it deserves

Most Romney supporters were pretty peeved about how the media has downplayed his WY victory. (a recent Newsmax story addresses this) However, I can see how it was easy for the media to ignore WY results since it's the least populous state and due to the odd caucus system they used (mostly party insiders and/or major activists.) However, their 12 delegates were as many as NH awarded, and Mitt actually got more delegates out of WY (8) than McCain got out of NH (7).

But that's in the past already . . . but NV looms in the future and we need to insist that it should count. Sadly, we're already seeing how downplayed NV is in the national media coverage.

Even though the the media is covering NV pretty heavily for the it for the Democratic side, they're relatively ignoring it for the GOP. My paranoid side says: "Figures, since Romney stands a good chance of winning it . . . of course the MSM will downplay it." I'm actually convinced that Romney will win it (and if he wins MI, Romney will win NV BIG). Unfortunate timing has the NV caucus on the same day as the SC primary (which is monopolizing the media's coverage.)

But is SC inherently more important than NV for this nomination?

OK, so we know that in recent history, no GOP candidate has won the nomination without winning SC. But this year is very different with at least three candidates still with very credible claims to taking it all, and two others who are still considered "top-teir" candidates. Usually, someone has established themselves after IA and NH and races into SC with the mighty momentum. Or, in the past, the race has been winnowed down to two people already and SC has been the final elimination round for one of them. Not so this year. Some are arguing that FL may play the role this year that SC has played in the past.

But lets look at the two states objectively.

Both are on Jan 19th

NV: 34 delegates up for grabs
SC: 24 delegates up for grabs

NV: Important swing state/purple state (i.e. we need someone who can show/run strong in such a state for the general election)
SC: Solid Red state . . . whoever the nominee is will win SC and most of the south no matter what.

NV: First western state on the docket (and much of that region are swing states)
SC: First southern state primary . . . and the south is pretty much locked up for the GOP.

Objectively, NV looks MORE important than SC to me!

Romney supporters need to start trumpeting the importance of NV relative to SC. Let's get this message on blogs, in comment sections on important blogs/articles/etc . . . I encourgage people to forward this message to your friends/contacts. It would be great if we could get an email campaign together focused at news organizations/journalists/prominent bloggers and asking them why it's being ignored so much . . . demanding that it get fair coverage (at least as much as their giving to the Dems in NV. I don't think any of us want another of Romney's wins to be written off like WY was. LET'S MAKE NEVADA COUNT!

Romney - Want to avoid a recession? Cut taxes.

Mitt Romney was on CNN's "Late Edition" being interviewed by "Mr.-Coolest-Name-in-Reporting" Wolf Blitzer. The interview took place 13 Jan 07.

In the first video Wolf leads off asking Gov Romney what he would do to avoid a a recession. I like Mitt's first response, "Lower Taxes." He proposes those folks making under $200,000 wouldn't pay taxes on interest, dividends or capital gains thus giving people a greater opportunity to save there earnings.



http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kQ70gsgi8WY

In the second video Mitt Romney responds to McCain's statement that certain jobs are lost to Michigan, specifically the auto industry, forever.



http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s8OWL1adaHM


Mitt Romney has 25 years business experience turning bad situations around. With so many worrying about the economy here is a guy that gets it. He understands is and is optimistic about it's future. This is one of the big reasons why I want Romney for president, his optimism, his faith in America and his belief in people and what they can accomplish.

Romney the Religous Leader

I wanted to point out a pretty good article discussing Romney's leadership while he was a bishop (a pastor) in Massachusetts. It points out some of the typical challenges church leaders face

As a religious leader, Romney met weekly with students, teachers, immigrant converts and Utah transplants. He had to learn how to give sermons, counsel squabbling couples, organize worship services, manage budgets and address the unique and diverse spiritual needs of more than 1,000 church members in the region.
Questions piled up: How should the church help the new Vietnamese or Cambodian members learn English, get jobs and manage church rituals? Should it build a new chapel to relieve overcrowding in the Cambridge meetinghouse, and what should be done about feminists chafing at LDS policies? Desperately poor Haitians flocked to Romney because he spoke French, having learned it on his two-year mission to Paris.

The article speaks about his interactions with other faiths.

[He] clearly saw the benefit of working with other faiths in the area.
After a suspicious fire in 1984 destroyed the beginnings of the Belmont chapel, eight churches offered to share their space. Instead of settling on one, Romney chose three - the Catholic Church, Plymouth Congregational Church and Armenian Protestant Church. After each weekly meeting, Romney insisted the Mormons stay behind to vacuum the floors, wash the blackboards and pick up the chairs.
It taught the members, even affluent ones, to value other people's sacred spaces and to do some seemingly menial labor, recalls Philip Barlow, chairman of Mormon Studies at Utah State University who was a counselor, or assistant, to Romney when he was a bishop.

The article covers many items, some rosy and some not but you can see where Romney learned from mistakes and improved. The final portion ends with:

"For the record, let me say that the Romneys their neighbors and associates know are neither phony nor scary," Barlow writes in a forthcoming issue of Religion in the News, published by the Leonard E. Greenberg Center for Religion in Public Life at Trinity College in Hartford, Conn. "Like it or not, Romney is naturally smooth, as much in private as in public."
The candidate has always "smiled faintly when listening and talking, even about serious or controversial matters," Barlow writes. "Romney smiled in conducting religious services or planning meetings. He smiled while hosting friends at his Cape Cod vacation home. He smiled when comforting a wounded congregant."
This was not a false persona, Barlow writes, but a "mixture of good will, confidence, optimism, enjoyment of intellectual challenge, and idiosyncrasy."

The full link can be found below
http://origin.sltrib.com/faith/ci_7943560

Fees vs Taxes

Romney's opponents have cited Romney on raising taxes or fees by $650 to 500 million. I say taxes or fees because some say fees correctly and others say taxes incorrectly yet purposefully to mislead.

A quick clarification: There is a HUGE difference between fees and taxes.
First, service fees are not taxes. Fees are not required to be payed, unless you want the service attached to them. Fees are usually assessed against items/services that taxes do not support.
Also, service fees REDUCE taxes by having the user pay so the taxpayer doesn't have to.

For example, if you need to register your car and it cost you $50.00 but it costs the government $100.00 (fees, labor, material, personnel) then they are losing money and guess who pays for the loss? You the tax payer will cover the difference in revenue through your taxes, government will not lose out when it comes to money.

Put another way:

Fees: Pay for what you get. Generally integrate well into market systems.

Taxes: Pay for what others get. Generally hurt market systems.

Now to address the ~$650 to 500 million. (By the way isn't it sad how governments can throw around such large numbers, even if we are off by a few hundred thousand? )

Here's the approximate numbers:

$240 million -- Romney's fee hikes on targeted services like highway billboards, multiple copies of driver's licenses, bar exams, etc
$260 million -- Fee hikes that were passed prior to Romney's first year in office, yet did not take effect until Romney was in office
$150 million -- Romney closed corporate tax loopholes

Add all three up, and there's your $650 million, which usually gets rounded to $700 million. Of course, Romney's contribution is only $400 million. Closing the corporate tax loopholes are simply enforcing existing tax code as it was intended...to call this a tax hike is like calling it a sentencing when you send an escaped convict back to prison. See, numerous banks that did some real estate as part of their business were claiming to be "real estate lenders" as their primary business and were thereby qualifying for a major tax shelter. Romney knew this was a false claim and called them to task on it. Simple enforcement.

The $240 million of fee hikes that Romney approved were more than offset by various TAX CUTS he implemented...in other words, better than a "revenue neutral" shift of taxes to service fees, which any conservative should like. The service fees were generally in line with national and local inflationary trends, as well as making the prices more reflective of the actual costs. Fees generally make accounting in government more transparent, as you can see where the money is going...and there's really no good reason to subsidize a service cost below its market value anyway.

Here's the link for Romney's tax cuts, the biggest of which was his reversal of the $250 million retroactive capital gains tax in 2005.

http://www.mittromney.com/News/Press-Releases/Romney_Record_Taxes_12.22


Romney did more for tax relief for the the citizens of Massachusetts than any other governor in a long time.

For those who say Romney is too perfect...

Here is a fun little video of him and his family on one of Mitt's days off. I like the part with the kids watching the thunderstorm and when his son tries to light the whole box of firecrackers while standing over it.

Enjoy.

Alabama Primary 5 Feb 2007

Just a reminder for all Alabamians that the Alabama primary is 5 Feb 2007.

FAQ: The Alabama Primary System and Its Effects on Election 2008

Posted on January 9th, 2008 by Steve

Do the Alabama Republicans and Alabama Democrats hold their primaries on the same day?
Yes, the Alabama Republican Party and the Alabama Democratic Party are both hosting their primaries Tuesday, February 5

Who can vote in the primaries?
Anyone who is registered to vote 10 days before the primary is allowed to vote in the Republican or Democratic primary. Whether declared Republican, Democrat, or Independent you can vote in the open Republican primary or the open Democratic primary.

I turned in a voter registration application. Am I registered to Vote?

Just because you turned in a voter registration application does not necessarily mean you are registered to vote. Once your application has been processed by your local board of registrars, you should receive an acknowledgement from the registrars indicating the status of your application. This acknowledgement will usually be a voter identification card confirming that you are registered to vote. However, if your application was incomplete, you may receive a letter requesting additional information to complete your application. If you are unsure about the status of your application, you can always call your local board of registrars and check.

Is Mitt’s run for the White House done if he doesn’t win 1st in Michigan?
No, not by a long shot. He is leading all Republicans in the delegate count with ‘two silvers and a gold’, and a second place in Michigan would obviously be more disappointing than a first, but will still carry the banner of the consensus conservative candidate.

What is a consensus conservative candidate?
Mitt is the standard bearer of the Reagan Coalition of social conservatives, fiscal conservatives, and national security conservatives. Senator McCain has strongly favored a comprehensive immigration approach, which included work visas for illegals, higher CAFE standards for automobiles, which hurts the American automobile industry, and the (in)famous McCain-Feingold legislation that limits campaign contributions.

Governor Huckabee, on the other hand, has supported in-state tuition for illegal immigrants, raised numerous state taxes, and pardoned more inmates than the three previous Arkansas Governors combined.

Why should I vote for Mitt Romney for President?
Alabama has a growing economy, increased developed and jobs are coming into the state. Alabamians need Mitt Romney’s proposed tax cuts to complement Alabama’s growth. Romney will bring proven executive, private sector experience to Washington D.C., so the Federal Government will work more like Fed Ex, and not like the Government that incompetently reacted to the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina. Mitt Romney knows how to work with Democrats as he was Governor of Massachusetts with an entirely Democratic legislature, and implemented a market-based health insurance program for all state residents. Mitt is intelligent and articulate as well. He has an MBA and law degree from Harvard, and is one of the strongest public speakers in the entire 2008 field of presidential candidates.

With Romney as President, Alabamians can trust that their taxes will stay low, their country will have a strong, proactive national defense, and a leader who will support pro-family legislation as he has lived family values.

Q. Does my vote really make a difference?

A. "Just" one vote can and often does make a difference in the outcome of an election. Here are some recent examples of real elections decided by one vote.

• In 1997, Vermont State representative Sydney Nixon was seated as an apparent one vote winner, 570 to 569. Mr Nixon resigned when the State House determined, after a recount, that he had actually lost to his opponent Robert Emond 572 to 571.

• In 1989, a Lansing, Michigan School District millage proposition failed when the final recount produced a tie vote 5,147 for, and 5,147 against. On the original vote count, votes against the proposition were ten more than those in favor. The result meant that the school district had to reduce its budget by $2.5 million.

• In 1994, Republican Randall Luthi and Independent Larry Call tied for a seat in the Wyoming House of Representatives from the Jackson Hole area with 1,941 votes each. A recount produced the same result. Mr. Luthi was finally declared the winner when, in a drawing before the State Canvassing Board, a pingpong ball bearing his name was pulled from the cowboy hat of Democratic Governor Mike Sullivan.

• In 1997, South Dakota Democrat John McIntyre led Republican Hal Wick 4,195 to 4,191 for the second seat in Legislative District 12 on election night. A subsequent recount showed Wick the winner at 4,192 to 4,191. The State Supreme Court however, ruled that one ballot counted for Wick was invalid due to an overvote. This left the race a tie. After hearing arguments from both sides, the State Legislature voted to seat wick 46 to 20.

Do you have any more information on Alabama’s primary?

http://www.sos.state.al.us/Elections/2008/ElectionInfo2008.aspx

http://www.uselections.com/al/al.htm

http://www.voteal.org/qa.htm

After NH Romney still on top!

Mitt Romney is still ahead of the pack. To recap, Romney came in second in Iowa, first in Wyoming, and close second in New Hampshire. The big story here is Romney still leads in over all delegates, what actually get you the nomination. Remember eight years ago when McCain won in New Hampshire, Michigan, and elsewhere. George W. Bush still won the majority of Republican votes. Bush played that card effectively as he marched towards the eventual GOP nomination.

Also, many say he's lost cause he out spent his opponents and it hasn't reaped a win. Romney has spent more money because he is not a house hold name like McCain or Guliani. He's had to get his message out there buy spending money on adds and trips to the states. I wrote about this previously here.

Below is the breakdown:

By the popular vote.

Romney - 30% - 103,247
McCain - 29% - 101,637
Huckabee - 19% - 66,638
Paul - 9% - 29,469
Giuliani - 7% - 23,955
Thompson - 5% - 18,684

The only other criteria–and the most important one for that matter–is overall delegate count.

Romney - 30 (42%)
Huckabee - 21 (30%)
McCain - 10 (14%)
Thompson - 6 (8%)
Paul - 2 (3%)
Giuliani - 1 (1%)
Hunter - 1 (1%)

.

Folks this is a long haul race not something decided on few states. Rush Limbaugh outlined it well

I want to remind all my Republican friends that there are many states after Iowa and New Hampshire where the Republican populations are far more indicative of the conservative base, and to get caught up in what happened in Iowa, to get caught up in what's going to happen in New Hampshire as though they're the only two states that matter and that they're going to determine the fallout on both parties is a little bit over the top.

Iowa is a caucus; it's a weird setup. New Hampshire allows independents to vote in the Republican primary, which is why McCain is doing as well as he is doing, and it's why the media want this to be a bellwether against Romney. I mean, Pat Buchanan came in second. He came in a very strong second in New Hampshire in 1992. Now, I'm not saying that these contests are not to be taken seriously here, and that they're not to be fought and to be won, but we don't want to get ahead of ourselves. New Hampshire is no longer the conservative barometer it used to be. The state has changed, it is now quite liberal. A lot of people who used to live in Massachusetts have moved into New Hampshire to escape high taxation and other problems. New England generally the northern states, states like Iowa, is not where the conservative base resides in large numbers.

Funny the way the media and pundits report it, Romney is a dead duck...didn't they say the same about George Bush?

"It's the Economy Stupid": John McCain Admits He Isn't Ready to Oversee Economy

This is repost of an excellent blog by Jeff Fuller from Iowans for Romeny

So "The Economy" constantly ranks up there among the top issues/concerns among voters of BOTH parties. With the Iraq issue being far less polarizing of late, the Economy, Illegal Immigration, and Healthcare look to be the key issues for the general election. Additionally, this New Hampshire Fox News Poll last month had the Economy and Illegal Immigration as the two most important issues to GOP voters with the Economy being by far the most important issue.

Additionally, unlike many issues listed, the status of the economy is something that touches EVERY American in some real and powerful way (as opposed to Iraq, or abortion, or foreign policy, or those without health care insurance).

In the financial world, the news of an imminent recession has been dominating the headlines (including the sinking strength on Wall Street). Just yesterday, Bush met with the economic advisors and the Fed Chairman to discuss these issues. The press conference afterwards was not terribly positive.

So is a McCain presidency a good fit for a good economy? Back in 2003 many didn't think so. His new economic plan isn't impressing many. And let's not forget what the Club for Growth thinks about McCain's economic record (Their main points are that "John McCain is No Supply-Sider" and that he has a "Tenuous Record as an Economic Conservative")

Those are the words of others . . . but what does McCain think of himself in relation to the economy?

Just one month ago, a piece from the Boston Globe (who has since endorsed McCain) led off with this:

SALEM, N.H. -- John McCain, who happily volunteers he doesn't know much about economics . . .

Later in the piece:

McCain stood before a line graph showing the increase of the alternative-minimum tax, a low-budget campaign's alternative to the PowerPoint presentation Mitt Romney uses when talking about economic policy, a subject McCain has said he feels he is unknowledgeable and that filling the void would be a priority when selecting a vice-presidential nominee.

So McCain wants to bolster the ticket because he's weak on the #1 issue and at a time that recession is a real concern? Sounds scary to me.

Yet further:

Like Mike Huckabee, who joked recently that he "may not be the expert that some people are on foreign policy, but I did stay in a Holiday Inn Express last night," McCain suggested to reporters Monday that American consumer culture offered a short cut to expertise. "The issue of economics is not something I've understood as well as I should," McCain said. "I've got Greenspan's book."

If Senator McCain hasn't a grasp of economic issues after 71 years of life, and after 3+ decades in politics, something tells me that you're not ever going to "get it" . . . even if Greenspan's book is really good.

If we really are headed toward recession in the next few months, do we really want John McCain as our nominee to put up against Hillary or Obama?
NO!
Romney's is a superior option to have at the TOP of the ticket.

FOX News Debate - Romney Hits a Home Run

Mitt held his own on the 5 Jan Debate and many pundits declared him the but tonights debate was an all out victory for Romney.

I had to listen to the debate via FOX New's watch live. I was able to listen to a good portion and watch the Luntz focus group graphs while the candidates responded. It was amazing how often Romeny ranked high with the group when he explained his positions. Below is the final summary and with Romney clearly the winner with the people.



Below is the explanation of the focus group and how they reacted when Romney spoke on certain issues. Important note: Romney continued to score high through out the debate.



The last part of the video members of the group agree Romney can beat Obama in 2008.


In addition many of he folks at Townhall.com gave there assessment of the debate

Mary Katherine Ham stated ranked Mitt at #1 and stated:

He was a stronger, more real version of Mitt tonight. I truly enjoyed it, and I haven't thought he's won a debate since the very first Republican debate. I think he probably did himself a lot of good in New Hampshire tonight, and the Luntz focus group shows it. This is the first time I've thought, maybe ever, that there's a glimmer of hope for Romney in a general.

Hugh Hewitt brought out the Luntz focus groups and their amazing results

The Luntz focus group is the best ten minutes of television Romney has had since the campaign began.

Fred Barnes: "A terrific debate for Mitt Romney."

Luntz's people meters measuring moment by moment reactions from debate watchers show that Romney consistently got the best results from both conservatives and moderates. "Incredibly high results," Luntz says on both illegal immigration and the need to change Washington.

"With just two days to go Romney hit a home run tonight," Luntz concluded.

One secondary benefit of tonight's debate for Romney is that Republicans thinking forward to the fall debates with Barack Obama know who is the best prepared to handle those contests.

In addition here are moments from the 5 Jan Debate at St. Anselm College. Note the same

Now Romney soaring here describing why he is running and his values:

http://www.wmur.com/video/14986506/index.html

and here were he discusses radical jihad and the need to move to a second phase to deal with Iraq:

http://www.wmur.com/video/14986296/index.html

Romney Signed A No Tax Pledge

This is from Monday, Oct 15, 2007 but explains well, from Governor Romney's own lips his feelings on rains taxes. It bears reposting with so many caucuses occurring folks need to know where Mitt Romney stands on taxes.

Governor Mitt Romney
Fox Business Network's "Cavuto"
October 15, 2007

Fox News' Neil Cavuto: "Now, he's the only GOP candidate so far to sign this no-tax pledge. Does he remember what happened to President Bush's father? So I asked him: is he nuts?"

Governor Mitt Romney: "Well, you have to stand for something and indicate what your priorities and your principles are and, in this setting, we're taking in enough money. The government is not taxing too little, it is spending too much. My priority is to rein in spending."

Cavuto: "So you can never see a situation where you might have to abandon that pledge?"

Governor Romney: "If King Kong attacks California, why, we'd obviously have to reconsider, but that's not..."

Cavuto: "What about a multi-year recession?"

Governor Romney: "Raising taxes is not the right answer for a multi-year recession. Major recessions would require reducing taxes, the right way to get our economy?"

Cavuto: "So there's no variable?"

Governor Romney: "The key is to keep our tax burden down so you grow the economy. A growing economy creates the revenues that government needs, and as long as you rein in spending so that spending is growing at a slower rate than the economy – then you have a stronger and stronger future."

Cavuto: "No one can get spending under control, Governor..."

...

Cavuto: "Would you ever envision a scenario where you'd entertain [raising taxes]?"

Governor Romney: "No, no the right answer is not to raise taxes on the American people and whether you're talking about capital gains tax or the ordinary income tax or the death tax or the Social Security tax, you don't want to raise taxes on people. We're taxing enough. The question is how do we spend our money more wisely and which programs are actually effective.

"When I came into the Olympics, for instance, I found out we had to cut our budget by $200 million and people said that's impossible. But you know, we did it. It took us a long time, we worked it through, we looked at all the things we were doing, we said, 'These are nice things to do, nice to have, but they're not need-to-have.' And in a country like ours, given the challenges we face globally, we're going to have to cut back to the need-to-have programs; the true safety-net programs, our military programs, but other sort of Congressional ideas that have been hanging around for years that aren't getting a lot done, we're going to pare some of those back or eliminate them all together.

To watch Governor Romney, please see: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_FN_dfXhSaQ